Tire-bead-making machine.



W. G. STEVENS. Y TIRE BEAD MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11131.21, 1912.

1,100,451 Patented June 16, 1914.

5 BHEETS-SHEET 1.

Win/@1123, m Wzami? 62190646 W. C. STEVENS.

TIRE BEAD MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEU.21, 1912.

1 100 45L Patented June 16,1914.

5 SHEETSBHEET 2.

- w. 0. STEVENS TIRE BEAD MAKING MACHINE.

AHLIOATIOH rum) D30. 21, 1912.

Patented June 16,1914.

- slums-ain't 3.

' m g v ya W. GHSTEVENS.

TIRE BEAD MAKING MACHINE. AP-PLIOATIION FILED DEC. 21, 1912.

- Patented June 16, 1914 5 SHEETS8KBBT 6.

6% m gm iul improvements in Tire-Bead-Making ,tires and particularly toa machine adapted in the detailed following description based thereonset forth a preferred embodiment of the shaft 15 likewise-journaled inthe frame.

UNITED STATES raprnntr OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. STEVENS. OF AKRON, QHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRESTQNE TIRE &RUBBER CQMPANY, 0F AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TIRE-BEAD-MAKING macnmn. 7

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1914.

A lication and December 21, 1912. Serial No. 73 .934.

T 0 all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, WILLL-in C. Srnvnxs, acitizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county ofSummitand -cltate of ()hio, have invented certain new and use- Machines,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines employed in the manufacture ofpneumatic to the forming of the rubber beads built into the marginalportions of such. tires to provide the lateral oli'sets'or lips whichtake under the flanges of the wheel rim to hold the tire in place uponthe wheel. These beads are usually of a substantially triangularcross-section and are composed'of rubber containing a plurality offibrous strands extending longitudinally thereof. In the formation ofsuch beads l employ a plurality of strips torn from a fabric which isheavily impregnated with rubber of such a nature as to be sticky, thesestrips being bunched into a fillet and passed. through formingrollsunder tension and pressare,'the resultant bead lengths being thenwound upon reels or drums and cured. s

In order that the invention and themannor of its application maybereadily understood by those skilled in the art, I have in theaccompanying illustrative drawings and the invention.

In these drawings, Figure l is a side ole vation of a machineconstruct-ed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitiulinalvertical. section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 4; Fig. 3 is a top plan view;Fig. -l is an end elevation; Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of one ofthe forming wheels; Fig. (3 is a section On the line (3-(3 of Fig. 5;and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on the line TT of Fig. 2 showingcertain of the forming rolls in edge elevation.

Having reference to the drawings, the numeral 11 designates the machineframe in l which is journaled the drive shaft 12 driven from-anysuitable source oi power and provided with the drive pinion 13 which isin mesh with the gear wheel 14 mounted on Upon the shaft 15 are splineda plurality of i ratchet wheels designated'by the numeral l chain 21with the sprocket 2:2 carried by the hub of a head forn'iing wheel2-lmounted upon the shaft :25 which likewise journal.- ed in the frameat 2h. The fillet-forming wheel 17 has a peripheral groove 27 ofsubstantially V-shape in cross section, the faces 2S) and 29 thereofbeing knurled to present a roughened' surtacc. and the bead formingwheel 2-lis provided with a similar groove 30. the operative faces 31and 32 of which are smooth. Immediately below the bead forming wheels 24are mounted upon the floating shaft 33 a plurality of pressure rolls 3%,each of which has a convex periphery 35, shown as having a cross sectionin the form of a truncated wedge, the convex periphery of each pressureWheel 3i working l! l the groove 3,0 of the corresponding bead formingwheel :24. The head forming wheels 2} and the pressure wheels 34 arelikewise splmed or otherwise suitably secured u rm their shafts 25 and33 to providev for ion 'itudiually shifting the same in unis son withthe shitting ot' the tillet-forming wheels 17. l-Xdjustment of thepressure wheels i-l-ltoward and from the bead forming wheels "3% isprovided for by mounting the shaft 33 within collams Ell) of the levers37. one end ot' each lever being pivotally fulcrumcd upon the shaftwhich is suit-- ably journa'lcd in the frame while the opposite end ofthe lever is adjustably supported upon the cross beam 39 by means of theset rcrcw 40.

Upon the top of the frame in one arm of the journal bracket 41 ismounted a pair of 'At'that end of the machine opposite the formingwheels the frame is provided with slotted journal. bearings 52 and 53adapted respectively to receive the shaft of a fabric spool 55 and ashaft 56 of a liner reel 57-. \Vithin the journal bracket 58 in front ofthe slotted journal bearing 52 is journaled 'a'shaft 59 carrying a guideroll extend ing transversely of the machine frame. l One side of theframe 11 is, as will be seen from Fig. 1, closed off in its "medialportion by a longitudinal frame member, 'while from the opposite side ofthe frame, as will be seen from Fig. 2, the corresponding member-isomitted, the frame being [formed somewhat as an arch so as to permit acar 61 mounted upon wneels (32 to be run beneath the machine. This carcarries pillow blocks 63 provided with journal bearings 64: within whichare mounted the two ends of the shaft 65 carrying reels 66 which aresplined thereon or otherwise suitably mounted to provide forlongitudinal shiftingias in the case of the forming wheels, each ofthereels including side plates (37. One end of the shaft (55 projectsbeyond its journal bearingbi and is squared, as shown at 68, forreleasable engagement with a squared opening 69 of the stub shaft 70jour mailed in the machine frame. Power is transinitted from the driveshaft 12 to the stub shaft 70 for the driving of the reel shaft 65, andto the shaft 56 for the driving of the liner reel 57 by means of a drivesheave 71 mounted on the end of the drive shaft, 21

, friction belt 72 passing from said sheave '21 around the sheave T3 ofthe stub shaft 70 and thence across and extending around the sheave 7%on the liner wheel shaft 56,

the tension of the. belt being such as to permitslippage. The machine isused inthe following manner: Into the slotted journal bearing 52 isslipped the shaft 54 of the reel 55 upon which is wound a supply offabric 75. This .46, which are preferably 175 in number, be

ing arranged in their elevated position engage the fabric and slit thesame for a distance of 1:1- or 2 feet into strips onequarter of an inchwide. These strips passing in alternation one above the separatingroller and the next below the separating roller 45 from whence they passinto buching dies 76, four in number, having their bases 77independently slidable within the guide 78 whereby they may be adjustedto occupy a position in the plane of the respective filletforming wheels17, the mouth of each flaring as indicated at T9 to facilitate theentrance of the strips.

If the bead is to be formed of a size requiring 11 inches of the fabric,the four sets of forming wheels and dies are equally spaced over the'width of the sheet and the it component quarter inch strips of each 11inches of fabric pass alternately under and over the separating rollsell and lb into each of the bunching dies from whence they are conductedin parallel relation around the fillet-forming wheel 17 which is drivendirectly by the gear 14. The faces 28 and 29 of the groove 27 in thefillet forming wheel being rough the bundle of strips is engaged therebyand the tension exerted by the driven forming wheel upon the bundle ofstrips serves to crowd the latter down into the groove forming a compactfillet 80 of parallel strands or strips having a cross sectioncorresponding to that of the groove. The end of the fillet is introducedbetween the bead forming wheel 24 and the pressure wheel 34 betweenwhich wheels it is compressed into the final form of the bead S1.

The peripheral speed of the bead forming wheel Z-l is slightly greaterthan that of the fillet-forming wheel 17 so that in addition to thecompacting of the fibers or strands of the fillet St) between the twowheels Q-t and 3f, the fillet is also subjected to a longitudinal strainor tension supplementing that of the fillet-forming wheel 17 in takingall slack out of the warp threads and imparting to the head 81 as itleaves the wheels 2-l and 3t the highest degree of tensile resistance aswell as compactness.

' After the forward end of the fabric has been initially slit for ashort distance, as stated, by the knives t6, these knives are lowered bythe manipulation of the angle lever .30 through its handle 5t andthereafter the quarter inch strips are torn by reason of the fact thatthe alternate strips pass .above and below the separating rolls 4 t andand are pulled continuouslv in a forward direction by their engagementwithin the groove of the tillet-forming wheel 17.

itssuming that the car l having mounted thereon a set of reels (it) hasbeen placed in position beneath the machine frame. the forward endof-the bead bl is attached to such reel and is tightly wound thereon.the reel being frictionally driven through its sheave T3. the looseengagement of which with the belt T2 provides for the increase indiameter due to the addition of succes ive layers of head thereon. \Yhenthe reels of one set are filled the bead 81 is severed and the car moem.

61 is run from beneath the machine, the

- squared endfiS of its shaft being slipped Within out of the squaredsocket 69 of the stub shaft. and another car carrying a set of empty.reels is run into place and the squared end of its shaft inserted intothe squared socket of the stub shaft after which the operation proceedsasbefore.

Between each successive layer of fabric a upon the reel 55 is arranged alinersheet 82 and as the fabric is progressively unwound this linersheet is wound upon the liner reel 57, which, being likewisefrictionally driven from its sheaves 74, takes up the liner sheet asfast as it is unwound from. the reel 55 notwithstanding the increase indiameter of the reel due to the layers accumulating thereon.

pen that one bundle is less taut than the others and as thefilletforming wheels are driven at a uniform speed it is desirable thatall of the bundl'esshall be equally taut so that the tension shall beuniformly applied to the sheet of fabric 75. To accomplish this resultthe ratchet connection between each of the forming Wheels 17 and theircommon shaft 15 is provided, the operator being able to grasp that wheel17 of which therbundle of strips is slack and by turning the same to theextent of one or more ratchet teeth take up the slack and bring about auniform tension upon the several bundles of strips.

lVhile I have herein illustrated and described with a considerabledegree of particularity constructional details of the machine embodyingmy invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedto the particular form and arrangement of the several parts which mhy.be modified a wide range Without departing from the essence of theinvention, the construction shown and the description based thereonbeing intended to be taken in an illustrative rather than a limitingsense.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of means totear a sheet of impregnated fabric into strips, means to assemble aplurality of the strips and form the sameinto a bead, substantially asdescribed. I

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means tosepa rate a sheet of rubber impregnated fabric into strips, means tobundle a plurality of strips in. parallel relation, and means to formthe resultant fillet under pressure into a bead, substantially asdescribed.

3, In a machine of the character described, the combination of means totear a sheet of rubber impregnated fabric into strips, means to bundle aplurality of strips in parallel relation, and meansto form the resultantfillet under tensiornand pressure into a bead, substantially asdescribed.

4.111 a machine of the character described, the combination of means totear a sheet of rubber impregnated fabric into strips comprising a pairof 00] 11mg guide rolls and a pair of separating guide rolls, the sheetof fabric being disposed between,

the confiningrolls and the alternate strips the sheet of fabric beingdisposed between the confining rolls and the alternate strips arrangedbelow and above the separating rolls, confining means to bundle thestrips in parallel relation, means to compact thebundle of strips intoa'fillet and to exert tension thereon to rend the fabric, and means toform the fillet under tension and pressure into a bead, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means totear it sheet of rubber impregnated fabric into strips comprising a pairof confining guide rolls and a pair of separating guide rolls, the sheetof fabric being disposed between the confining rolls and the alternatestrips arranged below and above the separating rolls, confining means tobundle the strips in parallel relation, and means to apply tension tothe strips and to form the same into a fillet comprising a groovedforming roll, and means to subject the resultant. fillet to tension andpressure to form the same into a bead, substantially as described.

7. In amachiue' of the character described, the comb'uation of means totear a sheet of rubber impregnated fabric into strips comprising a pairof confining guide .rolls and a pair of separating guide rolls,

the sheet of fabric being disposed between the confining rolls and thealternate strips arranged below and above the separating rolls,confining means to bundle the strips in parallel relation, means to formthe bundlcd strips under tension and pressure into a bead, and means forreeling up the finished bead under tension, substantially as described.

8. In a machine ofthe character described, the combination of means totear a sheet of rubber impregnated fabric into strips comprising a pairof confining guide rolls and a pair of separating guide rolls, the sheetof fabric being disposed between the confining rolls and the alternatestrips arranged below and above the separating rolls, con.- fining meansto bundle the strips in parallel relation. means to apply tension to thestrips and to form the same into a fillet comprising a grooved formingroll, means to subject the resultant fillet to tension and pressure toform the same into a bead, and means for reeling up the bead undertension, substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means toseparate a sheet of rubber impregnated fabric into strips, means tobundle a plurality of the strips in parallel relation, a wheel providedwith a peripheral groove adapted to receive the bundle of strips andform the same into a fillet. a second wheel provided with a peripheralgroove adapted to receive the fillet and form the same into a bead, areel adapted to wind up the resultant bead, substantially as described.

10.111 a machine of the character described, the combination of means toseparate a sheet of rubber impregnated fabric into strips. means tobundle a plurality of the strips in parallel relation, a wheel providedwith '-a peripheral groove adapted to receive the bundle of strips andform the same into a fillet. a second wheel provided with a peripheralgroove adapted to receive the fillet and form the same into a head, areel adapted to wind up the resultant bead, and means to drive thefillet forming wheel. the bead forming wheel and the reel. each of thelast two at a peripheral speed slightly greater than that of the onepreceding, substantially as described.

11. In a machine of the character de scribed, the cmnbination of meansto separate a sheet of rubber impregnated fabric into' strips. means tobundle a plurality of the strips in parallel relation, a wheel'providedwith'a peripheral groove adapted to receive the bundle of strips andform the same into a fillet, a second wheel provided with a peripheralgroove adaptetbto receive the fillet and form the same into a bead, anadjustable pressure wheel arranged to compress the fillet into thegroove of the bead forming wheel, and a reel adapted to wind up the beadunder tension, substantially as described.

'12. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of meansto separate a sheet of rubber impregnated fabric into strips, means tobundle a plurality of the strips in parallel relation, a wheel providedwith a peripheral groove adapted to receive the bundle of strips andform the. same into a fillet. a second wheel providec with aperipheralgroove adapted to receive the filletand form the same into a bead, anadjustable pressure wheel arranged to compress'the fillet into thegroove ofthe bead forming wheel, a reel adapted to wind up the beadunder tension, and means to drive the fillet forming wheel, the beadforming wheel and the reel, the peripheral speed of the last two beingslightly greater than that of the one preceding, substantially asdescribed.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means tosupport a roll of rubber impregnated fabric, means to slit the forwardend of the fabric into strips, a pair of confining guide rolls receivingtherebetween the slitted forward end of the fabric. a pair of sepa'ating rolls arranged between alternate strips of the fabric, a bunchingdie adapted to receive and bundle the strips in parallel relation, thepreliminar slitting means adapted to be withdrawn, means to exerttension upon the bundle of strips to draw the fabric between theconfining rolls and around the separating rolls to tear the same, andmeans to form under pressure the bundled strips into a bead,substantially as described.

l-t. In a machine of the character described, the combination of meansto support a roll of rubber impregnated fabric, means to slit theforward end of the fabric into strips..a pair of confining guide rollsreceiving therebetwcen the slitt'ed forward end of the fabric, a pair ofseparating rolls arranged between alternate strips of the fabric, abunching die adapted to receive and bundle the strips in parallelrelation, the preliminary slitting means adapted to be withdrawn, adriven wheel having a peripheral groove with roughened walls adapted toreceive the bundle of strips and to exert tension thereon to tear thefabric after the withdrawal of the slitting means, a wheel provided witha peripheral groove having 'smooth walls adapted to receive the filletand form the same into a head, the bead forming; wheel being driven at aperipheral speed slightly greater than that of the fillet forming wheel.and a reel to wind up the as described.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means tosupport a roll of rubber impregnated fabric, means to slit the forwardend of the fabric into strips, a pair of confining guide rolls receivingtherebetween the slitted forward end of the fabric, a pair of separatingrolls arranged between alternate strips of the fabric, a bunching dieadapted to receive and bundle the strips in parallel relation, the prelminary splitting means adapted to be withdrawn, a driven wheel having aperipheral groove with roughened walls adapted to receive the bundle ofstrips andto exert tension thereon to tear the fabric after thewithdrawal of the slitting means. a wheel provided with a peripheralgroove having resultantbead under tension, substantially smoma-llsladapted to receive the and form" the-same into a head, the bead scribedform wheelbeiilg'driven at a peripheral speed] ig'htly greater than'that of the fillet formiligqwheel, 'an adjustably, mounted presg r ontheifi let within the. oovebflt e bead m fl" Wheel tovsubject' I thefillet 'to; tension and pressure, and a frictionally drivenreel to'wnd'up the-resultant bafl den i tension, substantially as v le thefame-into strips comprising a pair of"v rollsand a-pair of separatj mgmm, a bunching die adapted to receive *antlffbimdlethe stripsin";parallel relation, 'a

drivernwheel having a peripheral fgroo ve receive the strips and formthe same into a: li fill'etf while wewrertin' tension thereon to; drawthe fabric-past t e rollers in "order to, tear the same, forming meanscompris- 'ing awh'eel having'aperipheralgroove to receive the fillet,and a pressure wheel hav ing agperip "eral rib to forcethe fillet intothe groove, the bead formin wheel having aperi heral speed reater t anthatjof'thel fillet; orm'ing whee and, agreel to wind up the resultantbead, the said reel bein fric-,

tionally driven to provideslippage, su stan-' tially as described. p 117; In a machine of-the character de'-. scribed,.'. the combination; of.I a frame arranged to support a reel .of rubber impreg--'n'ated'jfabric, means toseparate the sheet of fabric into strips, meanste -bunch the strips into a plurality' of bundles, and means for.forming each of the bundles into ahead wmprising a plurality ofperipherally grooved wheels each'adapted to receive a bundle lof.stripsand form. the" same into a bead 'nnder tension and compression,sub .smnfially' as described.

18'; a- ,machine of, the character 7 described,' the combination ofmeans to support a roll of rubber impregnated "fabric,- means to slitthe forward end of the fabric into a plurality' of strips, a pair of:confining rolls 'adaptedto re'oeive therebetween the slitted end of thefabric, apair of separating rolls adapted-tdsepa'rate alternate stripsof the fabric, means to bunch the strips into a lurality of bundles and.means for form-.

eachtof the bundlesinto abead compriswheels each adapted to receiveabundle of strips and fbrm the same into a bead under described,

on sai mpression, substantially-as 19,. In 'a' -machine of the characterdescribed, the combination of a frame adapted to support a roll ofrubber impregnated fabric, means to slit the forward end of the fabric,a pair of confining rollsad'a ted to receive; the slitted' end o f'thefabric t erebe-- tween, a pair of separating rolls adapted to separatealternate stri 's of the fabric, a plurality bf bunchin collecta-pliirality' o the strips into a bunv dle in parallel, relation, adriven shaft, a

set of geripherall ooved wheels mounteddie, a second set-of peripherallygroove wheels each arranged in the plane of a memberuof the first set,and'a set of reels each includi'n theplane of apair'of thegrooved v fwheels, t e first set of grooved wheels adaptform-the same into afillet, the second setfof grooved wheels adapted to receive each afillet and'form the same into a bead, and the set of reelsfadapted toreceive each a bead and wind the same up under tension, substantially asdescribed. 20'. In a machine: of -the character described, thecombination of a frame adapted to support 'ajroll 'of rubber impregnatedfabric, means to slit the forward end of the fabric, 'a pair of.confining rolls adapted to receive the slit-ted end of the fabrictherebetween, a pair of separating rolls adapted to separate alternatestrips of the fabric, a plurality of bunching dies each adapted tocollect a plurality of the strips into a bundle in parallel relation, adriven shaft, a set of eripherally grooved wheels mounted onsai shafteach inline with a bunching";

die, the connection between each of the grooved wheels and, the shaftbeing by -a 3 ratchet andawl to provide for angular adjustment 0 thewheel onthe shaft, a sec ondset of peripherally grooved wheels eacharranged in the plane ofamember of the first set, both sets jof groovedwheels and the bunching dies being longitudinallyidisplaceable to varythe dlstancetherebetween,

and'a set of reels each including the plane of a airof the groovedwheels,the first f grooved wheels adaptedtoreceive each a bundle of stris and formthevsame into a-fillet,.the secon -set of grooved wheels set 0adapted to receive each a fillet and form the same into a bead,"and theset of reels adapt- 1 3 ed to receive each a bead and wind the same v Vup under tensioa', substantially as described. I ing a plurality ofperipherally grooved v.

- WILLIAM 'o. STEVENS.

' Witnesses:

ies each adapted to 70 shaft eac in line with a bunching 75

